Texas House passes bill to spend more than $3 billion to help pay for flood control projects
With the damage from Hurricane Harvey in mind, lawmakers approved two bills aimed at better preparing the state for natural disasters. Full Story
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![Damage from Hurricane Harvey near the gulf coast on August 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Tomas Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
“Pain and heartache” in the Texas Senate during debate on Confederate monuments
In a party-line vote, the upper chamber advanced a bill that would make it more difficult for cities and state agencies to remove or alter historical markers. The legislation comes amid a larger debate over whether to keep or remove Confederate monuments. Full Story
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![The 1903 Confederate monument at the south entrance to the Capitol grounds says that Confederate soldiers died for states' rights.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
It's crunch time: Texas bills are going to start dying
Is paid sick leave on life support? Did "constitutional carry" advocates shoot themselves in the foot? With just weeks to go in the session, lawmakers are handling the pressure to get their bills across the finish line in different ways. Full Story
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Texas Senate approves two bills to override paid sick leave, local control over employment practices
LGBTQ advocates and business groups have warned that the measures could imperil municipal rules that outlaw discrimination. Full Story
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![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, lays out his bills during the Senate Education Committee meeting on Mar. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Texas environmental chief: There's still a fire risk at Deer Park facility
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Executive Director Toby Baker told a special panel of state senators on Thursday that first responders are still actively managing an incident at a Houston-area petrochemical facility that began last month. Full Story
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After helping defeat the “bathroom bill” in 2017, business groups are back to oppose “discriminatory and divisive measures”
The groups are targeting two priority bills in the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![Angela Hale, executive director for Texas Welcomes All, speaks during a press conference on March 27, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Watch: A higher education conversation with state Sen. Brandon Creighton and state Rep. Chris Turner
Watch our interview with state Sen. Brandon Creighton and state Rep. Chris Turner, moderated by Texas Tribune co-founder and CEO Evan Smith. Full Story
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![From left: Tribune CEO Evan Smith is joined by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, at Studio 919 in Austin on March 7, 2019. Creighton and Turner are chairmen of their respective higher education committees.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves anti-abortion bill in overnight vote
The Senate has approved a measure that prohibits local and state government agencies from contracting with abortion providers and their affiliates. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on March 27, 2017. The committee is consider several bills related to long-term care facilities including S.B. 1130 by Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa and others.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Texas Tribune -
With Trump on their side, Republicans hopeful for “Buy American” iron and steel bill
On Wednesday, the Senate voted 22-8 for a proposal that would expand a Buy American provision already in effect for the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Water Development Board to all state agencies. Full Story
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![Construction in downtown Austin's Warehouse District on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Video: Houston and the 84th Legislature
Full video of my 6/29 conversation about Houston and the 84th legislative session with state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston. Full Story
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Livestream: Houston & the Legislature: An 84th Session Recap
We're livestreaming a review of the just-finished legislative session — and its impact on Houston — with state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston. Full Story
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Bill That Increases Unemployment Taxes Moves Ahead
Legislation pushed by a politically connected company would increase unemployment taxes for Texas employers. Proponents say it would help outsourcing companies avoid "double taxation." Critics say it's a special interest perk. Full Story
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![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, at a Texas Tribune event in 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: New Senators on Transportation
At our 12/11 conversation, incoming Texas Senators Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Van Taylor, R-Plano, talked about the need for and possible sources of greater transportation funding. Full Story
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Video: New Senators on Border Security
At our 12/11 conversation, incoming Texas Senators Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Van Taylor, R-Plano, talked about what the next legislature should handle the issue of border security. Full Story
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Video: New Senators on the Two-Thirds Rule
At our 12/11 conversation, incoming Texas Senators Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Van Taylor, R-Plano, talked about the likely fate of the chamber's two-thirds rule. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation with Three Incoming Senators
Full video of my 12/11 conversation with three incoming members of the Texas Senate: Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Van Taylor, R-Plano. Full Story
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The Brief: Dec. 11, 2014
A couple of popular government programs for children — one helping with early education and the other providing health care — are facing funding questions. Full Story
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![A pre-kindergarten student learned syllables and word identification during a summer bilingual academy at Wilson Elementary School in San Antonio on June 26, 2012.]()
Credit: Lisa Krantz for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Sept. 10, 2014
State Rep. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, a Tea Party favorite, cruised to an outright win on Tuesday night in the special election to fill the West Texas Senate seat formerly held by Robert Duncan. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Aug. 15, 2014
One of the most intractable questions in Texas politics in recent years is why the state hasn't moved blue despite drastic demographic changes. A new analysis from The New York Times sheds new light on why this is so. Full Story
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Creighton Easily Wins Special State Senate Race
State Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, has defeated state Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, in a special election runoff for a vacant Houston-area state Senate seat. Full Story
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![State Reps. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, and Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, faced off for the vacant Senate District 4 seat in a special election runoff Tuesday.]()
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